Managerial skills

Managerial skills for Today

1. Managerial Skills Oyewole O. Sarumi

2. Management  is a challenging job. It requires certain skills to accomplish such a challenge. Thus, essential skills which every manager needs for doing a better management are called as  Managerial Skills .

3. According to Professor  Robert Katz , there are three  managerial  skills, viz., Conceptual  Skills, Human Relations  Skills, and Technical  Skills.

4. According to Prof. Robert Katz, all managers require above three managerial skills. However , the degree (amount) of these skills required varies (changes) from  levels of management  and from an organisation to organisation.

5. The above picture or diagram shows the managerial skills which are required by managers working at different levels of management. The top-level managers require more conceptual skills and less technical skills. The lower-level managers require more technical skills and fewer conceptual skills. Human relations skills are required equally by all three levels of management

6. 1. Conceptual Skills Conceptual skill is the ability to visualise (see) the organisation as a whole. It includes Analytical, Creative and Initiative skills. It helps the manager to identify the causes of the problems and not the symptoms. It helps him to solve the problems for the benefit of the entire organisation. It helps the manager to fix goals for the whole organisation and to plan for every situation. Conceptual skills  are  skills  that allow a person to think creatively while also understanding abstract ideas and complicated processes. A person who has  conceptual skills  will be able to solve problems, formulate processes and understand the relationship between ideas, concepts, patterns and symbols . According to Prof. Robert Katz, conceptual skills are mostly required by the top-level management because they spend more time in  planning ,  organising  and problem solving .

7. 2. Human Relations Skills Human relations  skills are also called  Interpersonal  skills. It is an ability to work with people. It helps the managers to understand, communicate and work with others. It also helps the managers to lead, motivate and develop team spirit. Human relations skills are required by all managers at all levels of management. This is so, since all managers have to interact and work with people .

8. 3. Technical Skills A technical skill is the ability to perform the given job. Technical skills help the managers to use different machines and tools. It also helps them to use various procedures and techniques. The low-level managers require more technical skills. This is because they are incharge of the actual operations. Apart from Prof. Robert Katz's three managerial skills, a manager also needs (requires) following additional managerial skills .

9. 4. Communication Skills Communication skills are required equally at all three levels of management. A manager must be able to communicate the plans and policies to the workers. Similarly, he must listen and solve the problems of the workers. He must encourage a free-flow of communication in the organisation.

10. 5. Administrative Skills Administrative skills are required at the top-level management. The top-level managers should know how to make plans and policies. They should also know how to get the work done. They should be able to co-ordinate different activities of the organisation. They should also be able to control the full organisation .

11. 6. Leadership Skills Leadership  skill is the ability to influence human behaviour. A manager requires leadership skills to motivate the workers. These skills help the Manager to get the work done through the workers .

12. 7. Problem Solving Skills Problem solving  skills are also called as  Design  skills. A manager should know how to identify a problem. He should also possess an ability to find a best solution for solving any specific problem. This requires intelligence, experience and up-to-date knowledge of the latest developments.

13. 8. Decision Making Skills Decision-making  skills are required at all levels of management. However, it is required more at the top-level of management. A manager must be able to take quick and correct decisions. He must also be able to implement his decision wisely. The success or failure of a manager depends upon the correctness of his decisions.

14. Reference Gaurav Akrani . Managerial Skills - Conceptual, Human Relations and Technical . Culled from: http :// kalyan-city.blogspot.com.ng